Saint Joseph Health System on Wednesday launched its new Saint Joseph-London hospital, located just off Interstate 75.

The $152 million, 340,000-square-foot hospital will officially open Aug. 19, but it held its ribbon-cutting ceremony Wednesday. Patients at the current hospital will be transferred Aug. 19, and any new patients admitted after that will go to the new hospital.

Saint Joseph spokesman Jeff Murphy said that at 5 a.m. Aug. 19, a patient will be transferred every three minutes until all patients are moved.

The new hospital will include 120 private rooms, artwork from local artists, and a lake and garden on 52 acres. The hospital's "Serenity Garden" is being designed by Kentucky celebrity gardener Jon Carloftis.

Sign Up and Save

The new hospital is nearly twice the size of the hospital it replaces in downtown London, and expansions of the cardiology and obstetrics-gynecology services are planned. The first open-heart surgery in southeastern Kentucky was performed at the hospital in 2000.

Saint Joseph-London was formerly known as Marymount Medical Center.

The hospital will hold a community celebration and sneak preview party Friday from 5 to 9 p.m. Activities will include tours and giveaways.